Jeongeun "Jeeno" Thitikul surged to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the AIG Women's Open, while Charley Hull posted a fluctuating score in her quest for a long‑awaited major title. Thitikul, currently ranked second in the world, recorded a flawless, bogey‑free 64 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, tallying seven birdies and establishing a two‑stroke cushion over two‑time major champion Haeren Ryu and Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki.
Ryu, who posted a five‑under‑par 66, is aiming to become the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to capture three majors in a row. French Solheim Cup star Céline Boutier also enjoyed a clean round, staying within three shots of the lead. Lottie Woad, the 22‑year‑old English rookie, opened with a solid two‑under‑par 69, keeping her in contention.
Hull, a five‑time runner‑up in major championships who has yet to secure a victory, produced a roller‑coaster round of six birdies offset by four bogeys, leaving her five strokes behind the leader. Defending champion Miyu Yamashita fell eight strokes back after a 72, while world No.
1 Nelly Korda struggled with a two‑over‑par 73 and now faces the prospect of missing back‑to‑back majors. Hull entered the tournament with high expectations, having finished runner‑up in the AIG Women’s Open for three consecutive years and hoping to become the first Englishwoman to win a major since 2018.
She began brightly, sinking a long‑range birdie on the par‑three first hole. A subsequent three‑putt on the second resulted in a bogey, but she quickly recovered by capitalising on both front‑nine par‑fives.
A missed shot on the eighth was redeemed when she holed a 12‑foot putt on the ninth, posting a respectable 34 for the front nine. The second half of her round saw Hull briefly close the gap to three strokes after birdieing the par‑five 11th and holing a dramatic putt from off the 15th‑green.
However, a bogey on the following hole left her paired with Woad at two under par. Reflecting on her nerves, Hull told Sky Sports, "I was so nervous on that first tee – I was shaking! It felt great to start with a birdie. I missed a few putts, but overall I think I played decently given how jittery I was." Woad’s round was marked by a spectacular birdie on the par‑five sixth after a challenging lip‑out forced her to settle for a birdie rather than a potential eagle.
She also birdied the par‑three 12th from a considerable distance, creating several opportunities to close the gap to Thitikul’s lead. "I hit a lot of fairways and found many greens, but didn’t convert enough putts," Woad admitted. "Good chances here are usually 15 to 25 feet from the flag – not easy. I rolled some great shots but just missed the putts." Thitikul’s performance was the standout of the day, delivering the lowest opening round ever recorded at Royal Lytham in the history of the AIG Women’s Open.
The Thai contender, chasing her first major triumph, displayed a seamless blend of power and precision from tee to green. She overtook the early clubhouse target set by Ryu, who had previously won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship, by posting six birdies against a single bogey. Speaking after her round, Thitikul said, "I enjoy it when my golf clicks.
It was great to know I was hitting solid shots. I even got a lucky bounce out of the pot bunker – when luck is on your side, it feels like it’s yours. I also felt confident with my putting today." Beyond the individual performances, the tournament also serves as the final qualifying event for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup squad.
Eight automatic qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, with captain Anna Nordqvist set to announce her four captain’s picks on Monday. Currently, Chiara Tamburlini holds a narrow advantage over Helen Briem for the second Solheim Cup spot via the Ladies European Tour rankings, though both have posted modest opening rounds of 75 and 76 respectively. The AIG Women’s Open continues to attract a global audience, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, followed by full broadcast from 1 p.m.
Viewers can also stream the event through various platforms without a contract. Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, ensuring they can experience world‑class facilities whether they are watching the major or playing their own round. As the tournament progresses, the narrative will focus on whether Hull can finally break her major runner‑up streak, if Woad can sustain her promising start, and how Thitikul will manage the pressure of defending her early lead.
The competition promises further drama, strategic play, and the possibility of a historic first major victory for an Englishwoman or a breakthrough win for the Thai star. Fans worldwide will be watching closely as the leaderboard evolves over the coming days.